Edit Your Class Options

Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Class Options

Departments determine which grade mode(s)Ìýare available for a classÌýand, if it's a variable credit class, howÌýmany credits you can take it for.

Grading Mode

What It Is How to Set It How to Check It How to Change It
What It Is

GradingÌýmode (a.k.a., grading basis or grading option) identifies how a class will be graded.Ìý

  • Student option: If a department designates a course as student option, then it's your choice whether to take it for a letter grade or as pass/fail.
  • Letter: This is the defaultÌýgrading basis in student-option classes. You'll earn aÌýletter grade that will appear on your transcript (A–F). For many classes, this is your only grading option.
  • Pass/fail: If you change your grading mode in a student-option class to pass/fail, you'll earn either a P/P+Ìý(pass) or an F (fail) gradeÌýthat will appear on your transcript. AÌýgrade of P+ will appear on your transcript if you earn aÌýgrade of C- or higher in a student-option pass/fail class. A grade of P will appear if you earn a D+, D or D-. P and P+ grades don't affect your GPA, but F grades do.
  • Pass/fail-only courses: Through Summer 2022, some classes are assigned a grading basis of pass/fail only. A grade of P will appear on your transcript if you earn a grade of a D- or higher in a pass/fail-only class.ÌýP grades don't affect your GPA, but F grades do. Credit is only earned with P grades.
  • Satisfactory/unsatisfactory: A grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory)Ìýwill appear on your transcript. Neither grade will affect your GPA, but only S grades earn credit. Beginning Fall 2022, this grading basis replaces pass/fail-only in undergraduate and graduate courses. (Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Law still uses pass/fail-only as one of its grading bases.)

If you're considering taking a class pass/fail, check with your advisor or department to determine whether the class could be applied toward your degree and ensure you don't exceed the maximum number of pass/fail credit hours allowed in a given semester. Rules vary by college, school and program, including graduate and Law programs.Ìý

To learn more, see the Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder catalog'sÌý.

Note: In Spring 2020, Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder temporarily lifted restrictionsÌýon the applicability of pass/fail grades to degree requirements. That change applied exclusively to classes completed inÌýSpring 2020.

You'llÌýbe prompted to select your grade mode during registration. To get there:

  1. Log in to .
  2. FindÌýa class you want to take, then click "Add to Cart" (class search instructions).
  3. Select yourÌýgrade modeÌýand any other class options, then click "OK."
  4. Finish enrollingÌý(classÌýadd instructions).

To check the grade mode of your enrolled classes:

  1. Follow this link to Buff Portal'sÌýÌý(you may be prompted to log in).
  2. Select "Check class grade mode."
  3. Select the correct semester. The grade mode will appear in the "Grading" column for each class.

Before the posted deadline for the semester (see calendar sidebar):

  1. Follow this link to Buff Portal'sÌýÌý(you may be prompted to log in).
  2. Select the class you want to edit, then select "Drop/Swap/Edit Class."
  3. Select "Edit This Class," then "Continue."
  4. In the registration system, select the class from the "Classes you are allowed to edit" drop-down, then click "Continue."
  5. Change your grade mode, then click "Next."
  6. Review your change(s), then click "Finish Editing."

If it worked, you'll see a confirmationÌýmessage. If not, read the error message carefully.

No Credit (Audit)

What It Is How to Set It How to Check It How to Change It
What It Is

If you take a class for no credit,Ìýyou'll still pay tuition for the class, but you won't earn a grade or credit hours. The class also won't fulfill degree requirements or count toward your enrollment totals for enrollment status or financial aid.

If you're a graduate student, you cannot use these credits towards your TA/RA appointment.

As of Aug. 20, 2020, students can no longer change a class to no credit using standard or beta registration.

Instead, follow these steps:

  1. Search for the class you want to take for no credit and add it to your Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder Class Search shopping cart (class search instructions).
  2. Select "Letter Grade" as your grade mode,Ìýthen click "Save Changes."
  3. Finish registering for the classÌý(class addÌýinstructions).
  4. Follow this link to theÌýÌý(you may be prompted to log in).
  5. If you're a veteran receiving educational benefits, tick the applicable checkbox.
  6. Under "Class Information," select the radio button to indicate you want to change a class to no credit.
  7. Under "Classes," find the class(es) you want to change to no credit, then tick the corresponding "Change to no credit" checkbox.
  8. Review your selections, then click "Submit."
You'll receive an email to confirm your form submission, and another to let you know we've finished processing your request.

Once we've processed your no-credit request, your will show a grade of NCÌý(no credit) for the class(es).

To cancel your no-credit request and change your class(es) back to letter grade or pass/fail:

  1. Follow this link to theÌýÌý(you may be prompted to log in).
  2. Under "Class Information," select the radio button to indicate you want to cancel a no-credit request.
  3. Under "Classes," find the class(es) you want to change to letter grade or pass/fail, then tick the corresponding "Cancel this no-credit request" checkbox.
  4. Review your selections, then click "Submit."
You'll receive an email to confirm your form submission, and another to let you know we've finished processing your request.

Variable Credit Hours

What They Are How to Set Them How to Check Them How to Change Them
What They Are

While most courses at Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder are offered for a fixed number of credits, select courses (e.g.,Ìýindependent study, thesis, dissertation) areÌýoffered for a range of credits to select from when you add the class to your shopping cart.

To learn more, see the Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder catalog'sÌý.

If you're registering for a variable credit class, you'llÌýbe prompted to select your credit hours when you add the class to your cart. Here's how to get there:

  1. Log in to .
  2. FindÌýa class you want to take, then click "Add to Cart" (class search instructions)
  3. Select yourÌýgrade modeÌýand click "OK."
  4. Finish enrollingÌý(class addÌýinstructions).

To check the credit hours of an enrolled class:

  1. Follow this link to Buff Portal'sÌýÌý(you may be prompted to log in).
  2. Select the class you want to check.
  3. In the class details,Ìýcredit hours will appear under the "Credits" heading.

Before the posted deadline for the semester (see calendar sidebar):

  1. Follow this link to Buff Portal'sÌýÌý(you may be prompted to log in).
  2. Select the class you want to edit, then select "Drop/Swap/Edit Class."
  3. Select "Edit This Class," then "Continue."
  4. In the registration system, select the class from the "Classes you are allowed to edit" drop-down, then click "Continue."
  5. Change your credit selection, then click "Next."
  6. Review your change(s), then click "Finish Editing."

If it worked, you'll see a confirmationÌýmessage. If not, read the error message carefully.

Contact Us

Ìý Ìýregistrar@colorado.edu
Ìý Ìý303-492-6970

Class Option Deadlines

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